In New York Times–bestselling author Paul Berman’s opinion, terrorism does not represent a paradigm shift in human thought; rather, it represents a return to the kind of totalitarian thinking that ravaged the European continent during most of the 20th century. Berman shows how a genuine religious inspiration can be turned into murderous terrorism, and offers insights into how Islamic radicalism mirrors some all-too-familiar episodes in America and Europe. He condemns the foreign policy “realism” of the right and diagnoses the naiveté of the political left. Finally, he calls for a “new radicalism” and “liberal American interventionism to promote democratic values throughout the world”—a vigorous new policy of American liberalism. Drawing from the history and philosophy of religion and politics, Berman is a peerless interpreter of today’s events.

“Mr. Berman is a wonderfully lucid presenter and analyzer of recent intellectual history.”—The New York Times Book Review